"I understand full well that much of themis-spending occurs when member states fail to exercise proper supervision ofspending within their borders, but the fact is that the EU must accept ultimateresponsibility for what happens to the money it dishes out.

"Every year we are told the Commissionis serious about tackling the problem. Every year it gets stillworse. It is shameful to the EU's integrity and unacceptable to its taxpayers."

"If you found misappropriation andmis-spending on this scale in a commercial business - or in aproperly-accountable public administration - there would be sackings all round.In Brussels, it's 'Carry on Squandering'."